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Bradley wins 2015 Futbol de Primera and US Soccer awards

December 23, 2015by US Soccer Players

MidfielderMichael Bradley won the 2015 Futbol de Primera Player of the Year award and the 2015 US Soccer Male Athlete of the Year award. These are the two player of the year awards in American soccer. Bradley is a first time winner of both. Bradley had a strong 2015, scoring in a February 8 friendly against Panama and again against Panama during the Gold Cup. Bradley's third goal in 2015 also came in the Gold Cup, against Jamaica on July 22. He led the USMNT in assists in 2015.

“It’s an honor to be selected amongst this group of players,” Bradley said of the US Soccer Male Athlete of the Year award. “This has been a challenging year for our team, yet we continue to understand the opportunity we have to represent the United States and know how important it is that we give everything we have every time we step on the field. That’s what means the most to me, and at the same time I certainly appreciate this recognition.”

The Futbol de Primera and the US Soccer Male Athlete of the Year award are the two MVP honors available to USMNT players. This is the first of either award for Bradley. Last year's winner of the Futbol de Primera award was goalkeeper Tim Howard. Landon Donovan has the record for the Futbol de Primera award, winning it seven times. The last time different players won the awards was in 2008 when Landon Donovan won the Futbol de Primera award and Howard won the US Soccer award.

US Soccer announced the Young Male Athlete of the Year winner, honoring Matt Miazga. The New York Red Bulls defender spent most of 2015 playig for the U-20s including appearances at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He also played in the U-23 Olympic qualifiers and earned his first cap for the senior National Team in a World Cup qualifying win against St Vincent and the Grenadines.